Dun Deardail - Nevis Landscape Partnership

Transcription

Dun Deardail
Archaeological Project Design
Lochaber Forest District
Draft v3
(Nov 2014)
Dun Deardail
Contents
Summary........................................................................................................................................4
Introduction...................................................................................................................................7
Site location ............................................................................................................................... 8
Geology and soils ........................................................................................................................ 8
Archaeological background and previous work ............................................................................... 10
Scottish Historic Environment Strategy and Policy.......................................................................12
Current hillfort research agendas in Scotland ..............................................................................15
Date of construction and duration of use? ..................................................................................... 15
Function of forts and why enclose?............................................................................................... 16
Why vitrify? .............................................................................................................................. 17
Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (SCARF) .................................................................... 19
Project Aims and Objectives ........................................................................................................21
Programme of works.................................................................................................................. 23
Production of method statement .................................................................................................. 23
Production of Risk Assessment and Health and Safety Plan .............................................................. 23
Desk-based Assessment and comparative study............................................................................. 24
Stage One programme of on-site works .......................................................................................25
Geophysics ............................................................................................................................... 25
Preparatory Works..................................................................................................................... 27
Excavation ............................................................................................................................... 28
General Excavation Methods ....................................................................................................... 33
Field team ................................................................................................................................ 37
Stage 2 programme of post-excavation .......................................................................................38
Interim Reporting ........................................................................................................................39
Public engagement, outreach and education................................................................................40
On-site volunteer training ........................................................................................................... 40
Archaeological Outreach Programme ............................................................................................ 41
Experimental reconstruction of the timber laced dry stone rampart ................................................... 44
Evaluation of the project ..............................................................................................................45
Final publication...........................................................................................................................46
Archive Deposition .......................................................................................................................46
Insurance.....................................................................................................................................46
Professional standards.................................................................................................................47
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Scheduled Monument Consent .....................................................................................................47
Conditions of Contract..................................................................................................................47
Indicative project costs and indicative post-excavation costs......................................................48
Excavation ............................................................................................................................... 48
Archaeological outreach programme............................................................................................. 49
Evaluation ................................................................................................................................ 49
Vitrification experiment .............................................................................................................. 49
University of Stirling School of Biological and Environmental Science PhD .......................................... 50
Publication ............................................................................................................................... 50
Budget Summary ...................................................................................................................... 51
References ...................................................................................................................................52
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Summary
This Project Design describes an archaeological project based at the vitrified hillfort of
Dun Deardail in Glen Nevis, Lochaber. The Project Design has been produced to enable
Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) (on behalf of The Nevis Partnership) to seek
Scheduled Monument Consent and Section 42 Consent prior to tendering a contract in
regard to the professionally-led archaeological excavation, post-excavation, reporting
and publication of an exciting programme of works proposed at Dun Deardail with
significant and considerable public benefits. The archaeological potential of the site was
highlighted as it is a significant historic asset on the popular West Highland Way – a site
of considerable cultural significance within the Nevis Partnership area but with visible
(and increasing) erosion problems caused by increased visitor pressure.
The Nevis Partnership is currently delivering an ambitious Heritage Lottery Funded
Landscape Partnership project to engage local communities in the conservation and
celebration of the landscape of Glen Nevis and Ben Nevis. This will be achieved through
the protection and enhancement of the natural and built heritage of the area.
“The main aims of the project are to engage visitors and local communities in all aspects
of landscape conservation and management, conserve the unique landscape character of
the Nevis Area, promote understanding of, and facilitate learning about, that landscape
and collect and disseminate related information” (Nevis Landscape Partnership Scheme).
One element of the Heritage Lottery Funded Landscape Partnership is an archaeological
project centred on Dun Deardail. The Project Design aims to better understand,
protect and value the hillfort of Dun Deardail by:
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investigating the archaeological potential of the hillfort;
enhancing the historic environmental records;
informing ongoing condition monitoring in regard to management issues and
pressures;
informing current and future conservation management;
engaging and enthusing local people in archaeology and their historic
environment;
providing a bespoke high-quality archaeological higher education opportunity;
ensuring practical public involvement and education in regard to archaeology and
their historic environment; and
ensuring and promoting a sustainable and lasting educational legacy.
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The overall Dun Deardail project will comprise:
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a three year programme of archaeological excavation and site consolidation (by
the Nevis Partnership);
the experimental reconstruction of a section of vitrified rampart (by FCS);
a PhD (in partnership between FCS and the University of Stirling School of
Biological and Environmental Science) into Vitrification in the Scottish Iron Age;
and
a programme of public engagement, outreach and Curriculum-for-Excellence
relevant learning opportunities (by the Nevis Partnership).
The role of Scotland’s national forest estate and Strategic Directions 2013-16 sets out
our priorities in terms of integrated land management. The key priorities for archaeology
are that:
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“we will continue to undertake conservation management, condition monitoring
and archaeological recording at significant historic assets;
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and that we will continue to work with stakeholders to develop, share and
promote best-practice historic environment conservation management.”
The Dun Deardail project meets these key priorities and is also designed to meet the key
objectives of the Scottish Government’s Our Place in Time: the Historic Environment
Strategy for Scotland of understanding, protecting and valuing. We are proud to support
Our Place in Time and the emerging Scottish Archaeology Strategy; and also seek to
contribute to the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework.
The Scottish Government’s Our Place in Time: The historic environment strategy for
Scotland describes a shared vision, that:
“Scotland’s historic environment is understood and valued, cared for and protected,
enjoyed and enhanced. It is at the heart of a flourishing and sustainable Scotland and
will be passed on with pride to benefit future generations”.
Our Place in Time aims to realise this shared vision by promoting:
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“Understanding: by investigating and recording our historic environment to
continually develop our knowledge, understanding and interpretation of our past
and how best to conserve, sustain and present it.
Protecting: by caring for and protecting the historic environment, ensuring that we
can both enjoy and benefit from it and conserve and enhance it for the enjoyment
and benefit of future generations.
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Valuing: by sharing and celebrating the richness and significance of our historic
environment, enabling us to enjoy the fascinating and inspirational diversity of our
heritage.”
This Project Design (PD) was written by Clare Ellis (Argyll Archaeology) with input from
Murray Cook (Rampart Scotland). Further input and editing was provided by Matt Ritchie
(Forestry Commission Scotland).
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Introduction
Dun Deardail is located on an elevated rocky knoll the west side of Glen Nevis. The
hillfort is overlooked by Ben Nevis and has breath-taking views over the surrounding
glen. No archaeological excavation has ever taken place within the fort and it remains
undated. However, excavation of other similar sites indicates that the fort may have
been built and occupied (perhaps over several periods) between 700 BC and AD 900.
The hillfort is a Scheduled Monument (SM 2893).
This Project Design defines the aims and objectives of the project and sets out the
required methodology. It will form the basis of an application for Scheduled Monument
Consent and serve to inform and guide archaeological contractors in the preparation of
their tender submissions. The project will be led by a team of professional archaeologists
assisted by a team of volunteers. The volunteers will be offered a comprehensive
programme of training in all aspects of archaeological excavation. Outreach will include
the production of educational resource packs for both primary and secondary teachers,
school visits, various workshops, evening classes and open days.
The project will run over three consecutive years (starting in summer 2015), with a
short season of excavation taking place every year for two weeks (12 days). Postexcavation will take place every year to inform the excavation strategy for the following
year as well as allowing for the updating and development of the outreach programme of
events and educational resource packs.
The project will culminate in both a popular and an academic publication. The Nevis
Partnership Dun Deardail Archaeological Project steering group (Nevis Partnership, FCS
Archaeologist, University of Stirling, Historic Scotland and the Highland Council
Archaeology Unit, supported by appointed contractors) will oversee the research
activities and input into the final project publication.
On completion the project will also be subject to a comprehensive evaluation by the Site
Director, with the results presented as a written document.
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Site location
The vitrified hill fort of Dun Deardail is located in Glen Nevis on the western side of Ben
Nevis, near Fort William, Lochaber. The fort occupies the summit of a natural rocky knoll
on the north facing spur of Sgurr Challum (NN 2705 70131). The fall on the northeastern side of the fort is almost sheer, dropping steeply down through forestry to the
floodplain below. The northern and southern sides of the knoll are also steep but
relatively short and are bounded by relatively flat terraces. The western side of the fort
falls away more gently with a rocky spur running off in a south-westerly direction
offering the easiest approach to the site. The hill fort commands fine views in all
directions but particularly down over Glen Nevis and northwards towards Fort William.
An aerial photograph of the fort (2011).
Geology and soils
The rocky knoll upon which Dun Deardail is located comprises calcareous pelite of the
Ballachulish limestone formation. The site is covered by rough grass with a thin covering
of peat rich topsoil. In a few places on the outer side of the enclosure wall lumps of
vitrified stone are clearly visible. A small amount of erosion caused by walkers reveals
that much of the enclosure wall comprises rounded and sub-rounded cobbles with an
inner core of smaller stones including sub-angular clasts. The lithology of the wall is
mixed and includes pink porphyry, quartz diorite and granodiorite, calcareous pelite and
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schist. The ground cover on the terraces below and immediately around the fort
comprises deer grass, bog cotton and some heather. Drainage channels show that the
soil is dominated by well-humified peat.
Location map depicting the extent of the scheduled area
Hill-shaded terrain model without archaeological interpretation (view facing NE) (Rubicon
Heritage 2013).
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Archaeological background and previous work
Dun Deardail fort is Barbarpapa-shaped on plan, measuring some 46m from NE to SW
by up to 28m transversely. The summit of the hill is undulating and clearly defined by a
grass clad, ruinous stone wall which survives up to 2.5 m in height and varies
considerably in width because of its collapsed nature. The wall appears to be particularly
well-preserved along the south-westerly stretch before reducing in height to the current
entrance; it is not clear where the original entrance would have been located as there is
no definable break within the wall. Lumps of vitrified rock are visible around the circuit of
the enclosure but are most prominent on the northern side. Much of the vitrified material
appears to be displaced from its original location sitting out from the main body of the
wall. Actual wall facing is not discernible. The core of the wall appears to comprise loose
rounded cobbles, pebbles and some angular rocks with a wide range of lithologies
present. It is clear that in places the wall has collapsed down the outer slope of the fort,
with resultant hollows in the wall and wall material forming exposed patches of scree
spread down slope. Massive wall collapse is also evident by a cone of distinct vegetation
which occurs on the steep slopes of the fort which is very different to the vegetation on
the blanket bog.
Hill-shaded contour plan
without archaeological
interpretation (Rubicon
Heritage 2013).
Within the interior of the fort there are two distinct areas demarcated by a curvilinear
break in slope. The lower south-western end is the larger measuring roughly 30m by
28m. Within this lower area are two fairly well defined terraces, one in the south-eastern
corner and the other in the north-western corner. There two terraces sit above a lower
flat area which has much rubble under foot. A low mound of cobble rubble sits just on
the south side of the current entrance, although this clearly leads over the in situ wall.
The upper area (referred to as the citadel) measures roughly 20m by 15m within what
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appears to be much collapsed wall material in the northern corner. This area is relatively
flat with a distinct break of slope on the western side. There is a possible, but barely
discernible bank beyond this before the curvilinear break of slope leading down into the
lower area.
A possible wall or outer defences were noted by Feachem (1966) located on the lower
knoll to the north of the fort and separated from it by a narrow flat terrace. This wall is
no longer visible, although the flatness of the knoll would easily lend itself to out-works
and / or ancillary occupation possibly associated with the vitrified fort. Similarly, there is
no sign of the circular depression that may have been a cistern or well noted by the OS
in 1970.
A programme of repair of erosion has been recently undertaken by the Forestry
Commission Scotland staff. The repairs took place on the north side of the fort and
across footpaths that crossed over the ramparts. Turves were cut from out-with the
scheduled monument area and laid in ruts and hollows; and, on the path now traversing
the slopes of the fort, local stone in steps was laid to protect the underlying ground
surface. The access path (detailed below in red) now leads the visitor to the western side
of the fort and in over the lowest part of the enclosing wall (at the likely entrance). As a
result of visitor pressure, erosion occurs all around the circuit of the rampart (detailed
below in orange).
A topographic survey of Dun Deardail was
undertaken in 2010 by Headland Archaeology.
This defined in plan the extent of the enclosure
wall, terraces and much of the exposed vitrified
stone work. A contour survey was undertaken in
2013 by Rubicon Heritage.
No recorded excavation has taken place at Dun Deardail. An Dun, fort, Dun Deardail was
scheduled under The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 in 1995.
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Scottish Historic Environment Strategy
and Policy
The Scottish Government’s Our Place in Time: The historic environment strategy for
Scotland describes a shared vision, that:
“Scotland’s historic environment is understood and valued, cared for and protected,
enjoyed and enhanced. It is at the heart of a flourishing and sustainable Scotland and
will be passed on with pride to benefit future generations”.
It aims to realise this shared vision by promoting:

“Understanding: by investigating and recording our historic environment to
continually develop our knowledge, understanding and interpretation of our past
and how best to conserve, sustain and present it.
Protecting: by caring for and protecting the historic environment, ensuring that
we can both enjoy and benefit from it and conserve and enhance it for the
enjoyment and benefit of future generations.
Valuing: by sharing and celebrating the richness and significance of our historic
environment, enabling us to enjoy the fascinating and inspirational diversity of our
heritage.”
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
Any proposal to excavate a Scheduled Monument must take account of the Scottish
Government’s Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP) which describes a key belief:
“The protection of the historic environment is not about preventing change. Ministers
believe that change in this dynamic environment should be managed intelligently and
with understanding, to achieve the best outcome for the historic environment and for the
people of Scotland.”
SHEP outlines three key outcomes:
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“that the historic environment is cared for, protected and enhanced for the benefit
of our own and future generations;
to secure greater economic benefits from the historic environment; and that
the people of Scotland and visitors to our country value, understand and enjoy the
historic environment.”
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In regard to archaeological excavation, SHEP (Section 3.22) specifically notes that:
“Any archaeological excavation or other intrusive investigation should be based upon a
detailed research strategy, with adequate resources, using appropriately skilled and
experienced archaeologists with a satisfactory record of the completion and publication
of projects.”
In addition, SHEP (Section 5.18) notes that:
“In order to understand fully the building or site, it may be necessary to commission
additional research, analysis, survey or investigation. This may be necessary in advance
of carrying out works, or in the course of preparing conservation management plans,
management guidelines or conservation manuals. A repair and maintenance programme
on its own may be insufficient to address complex conservation problems and inherent
defects.”
The Project Design meets each of the three key outcomes identified by SHEP: it seeks to
involve the public in the professional research of the hillfort of Dun Deardail (one of
Scotland’s key monument types) in order realise and better understand the
archaeological potential (and inform the ongoing protection and conservation
management); to create a situation whereby the fort comprises a sustainable and
significant regional visitor asset (enhancing the local economy as one of the most
significant archaeological sites on the West Highland Way); and to promote the
educational aspects of the fort, improving access and understanding and reinforcing local
identity and sense of place.
The Project Design aims to better understand, protect and value the hillfort of Dun
Deardail by:
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
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investigating the archaeological potential of the hillfort;
enhancing the historic environmental records;
informing ongoing condition monitoring in regard to management issues and
pressures;
informing current and future conservation management;
engaging and enthusing local people in archaeology and their historic
environment;
providing a bespoke high-quality archaeological higher education opportunity;
ensuring practical public involvement and education in regard to archaeology and
their historic environment; and
ensuring and promoting a sustainable and lasting educational legacy.
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The project will comprise:

a three year programme of archaeological excavation and site consolidation (by
the Nevis Partnership);
the experimental reconstruction of a section of vitrified rampart (by FCS);
a PhD (in partnership between FCS and the University of Stirling School of
Biological and Environmental Science) into Vitrification in the Scottish Iron Age;
and
a programme of public engagement, outreach and Curriculum-for-Excellence
relevant learning opportunities (by the Nevis Partnership).
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SHEP outlines a key series of requirements for a successful Scheduled Monument
Consent application (Sections 3.14 - 3.22). The proposed project represents the
minimum level of excavation to properly date and understand the chronological
sequence of the site, including any reuse and internal activity. In addition, the works will
contribute to an understanding of vitrified hillforts; hillforts of the central and western
Highlands; and the internal use and reuse of hillforts (as per ScARF research
recommendations). The works will be undertaken in a manner that blends professional
experience, academic excellence and volunteer training with an outcome that will
improve the management and condition monitoring of the monument and improve
access and understanding, reinforcing local identity and sense of place.
The supporting public-facing elements of the Project Design (volunteer opportunities at a
high quality professional archaeological excavation; experimental reconstruction of a
section of vitrified rampart; a bespoke high-quality archaeological higher education
opportunity; and the proposed programme of public engagement, outreach and
Curriculum-for-Excellence relevant learning opportunities) are designed to engage both
the wider archaeological community and the local community in a number of additional
public benefits, meeting many of the aims and objectives of Our Place in Time: the
historic environment strategy for Scotland.
Our commitment to CPD within the archaeological community has been demonstrated by
the recent resurvey of Craig Phadrig (a vitrified fort near Inverness) by RCAHMS in late
2013 - part of the skills development of the RCAHMS / Institute for
Archaeologist's Workplace Learning Bursary scheme placement. RCAHMS and FCS then
entered into a partnership project to extend the skills development into archive research
and reporting. The resulting publication (McCaig 2015 / see
http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/news/craig-phadrig-research-project) is an excellent
overview of a hitherto much studied (but little published) site of truly national
importance. With little additional resource - but much collaborative goodwill - we
enhanced the various historic environment records and enabled further CPD on top of
the excellent IfA Workplace Learning Bursary Scheme.
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Current hillfort research agendas in
Scotland
A fort or hillfort is defined by its topographic advantage and by virtue of being enclosed.
However, the term implies a warlike function or impetus to the construction of the site
which is not necessarily the case (cf Armit 2007; Lock 2011). Dun Deardail is a relatively
small fort and it is tempting to describe it as a nuclear fort (Stevenson 1949) or citadel
fort (Alcock 2003; Ralston 2004; Harding 2012) typical of the Early Historic period.
However, embodied within this definition are many uncertainties and it is these which
will form the basis of the research agenda at Dun Deardail.
Date of construction and duration of use?
Very few hillforts or forts in Scotland have been subject to large scale excavation
hampering our understanding of them (Scottish Archaeological Research Framework
www.scottishheritagehub.com) and in general recent research has tended to focus on
key-hole excavations (Dunwell and Strachan 2007; Cook 2013;
http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/humanities/research/archaeologyresearch/projects/serf/),
although there are clear exceptions such as Rhynie (Noble and Gondeck 2011). This is
primarily because of the scale of the task; hillforts are large complex monuments and to
undertake sufficient work to characterise them is a complex task. In addition, of the
hillforts excavated in Scotland, the majority have been in Eastern Scotland (Harding
2012; Halliday and Ralston 2009). Indeed, the 2001 Iron Age Research Agenda
describes the West Highlands and Argyll as black-holes (Haselgrove et al 2001, E2).
Typically, although not exclusively, Iron Age hillforts often spread across a broad summit
whereas the Early Historic nuclear forts are located on small rock knolls or conical hills.
However, excavation has revealed that in some cases Iron Age hillforts were remodelled
in the Early Historic period. The vitrification of ramparts appears to be both an Iron Age
and Early Historic phenomenon.
Examples of principally prehistoric hillforts that have seen some excavation include
Brown Caterthun (Dunwell & Strachan 2007), Craig Phadrig (Small & Cottam 1972) and
Broxmouth (Hill 1982). Timber within one of the rampart at Brown Caterthun yielded
Early Iron Age dates (circa 760-400 BC), charcoal from under and within the tumble of
inner wall places Craig Phadrig in the middle of the first millennium BC and the dates
from Broxmouth indicated activity from circa 800 BC to 350 AD. Examples of excavated
Early Historic forts include Dundurn (Alcock et al 1989), Clatchchard Craig (Close-Brooks
1986) and Dunadd (Lane & Campbell 2000). More recent sample excavation of forts in
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Aberdeenshire has yielded an interesting set of dates indicating three periods of
enclosure, the Late Bronze Age (circa 1000 BC), the Middle Iron Age (circa 500-200 BC)
and the Early Historic Period (circa 400-800 AD) (Cook 2013b). Furthermore, it is clear
that some Iron Age hill forts were re-used and remodelled in the Early Historic period
(Feacham 1966, Ralston 2004 & Driscoll 2011). For example given the artefactual
evidence it is presumed that the refurbishment of the outer wall at Craig Phadrig is
Pictish (Ralston 2004). At Hill of Barra the Middle Iron Age hillfort was also refortified in
the Early Historic period (Cook 2013b). At Trusty Hill the Iron Age site was reoccupied
and the inner rampart constructed in the Early Historic period (Toolis & Bowles 2012).
Similarly Dunadd was first constructed in the Middle Iron Age and became the royal fort
of Dál Riata in the Early Historic period (Lane & Campbell 2000). However, reuse of Iron
Age forts is not obligatory as the forts of Dundurn and Clatchchard Craig demonstrate;
these sites appear to be entirely Early Historic in date.
Function of forts and why enclose?
Traditionally, forts were regarded as primarily places of defence and for many
archaeologists given the fluidity of the political situation in the Late Iron Age and
throughout the Early Historic Period in Scotland this seems as good as explanation as
any, although academic debate continues to rage (Lock 2011). Large enclosing ramparts
may also have served as a status symbol of the occupants’ wealth and power to
command resources and labour beyond their immediate kin; such large scale
engineering works could also help to bond communities together and establish and
maintain identity (Lock et al 2005, 134). Additionally, visual display and setting are key
factors in hillfort design (Driver 2007).
In the absence of significant excavation it is not clear if Iron Age hillforts were used for
seasonal occupation or permanent settlement, although by contrast permanent
settlement is the prevailing paradigm for Early Historic hillforts.
In the Early Historic period these enclosed sites may have served as central military and
administration places, controlled by an elite and within which specialised goods were
made, imported and redistributed e.g. Dunadd (Campbell 1999) and Trusty’s Hill (Toolis
& Bowes 2012). Furthermore, it has been suggested that these sites were intermittent
residences of a peripatetic elite (Ralston 2004). Indeed, there are existing historical
accounts to back these functions and indeed their role in conflict (Alcock 1988).
However, forts may have served many functions, both practical and symbolic, for the
elite and well as for the broader community (Harding 2012) and this must be
emphasised with particular reference to Early Historic hillforts where the theoretical
position is less advanced than that for the Iron Age (Cook 2013a), though it does exist
(eg Campbell 2003). What little excavation of forts there has been in Scotland has
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largely concentrated on the ramparts. This has resulted in some understanding of site
specific chronological development but consequently there is very little information on
the activities taking place inside. Recovery of animal bones, querns, spinning and
weaving tools, accumulation of midden as well as limited evidence for domestic
structures from excavations at Dunadd (Lane and Campbell 2000), Maiden Castle (Cook
2013b) and Dundurn (Alcock et al 1989) indicates that these sites also witnessed and
supported more mundane domestic tasks. However, given the relatively small size of
many of the nuclear forts there is some suggestion that they may have been used for a
wide range of seasonal or episodic activities (Scottish Archaeological Research
Framework www.scottishheritagehub.com), but without excavation of their interiors the
role of the nuclear forts remains rather elusive. Similarly, there have been even less
excavation of the space out-with forts, but can it be assumed that activity was confined
by the enclosing walls or ramparts? Certainly, where excavation has taken place it has
often revealed spectacular results, eg Broxmouth, East Lothian (Armit et al 2013).
Why vitrify?
Vitrification is the process by which stones are fused together at temperatures in excess
of 1000 degrees Celsius (Ralston 2006, 146), represents an even more impressive
investment (Ralston 1986). Vitrification requires timber-laced stone built ramparts and
involves substantial quantities of fuel over an extended period of time, possibly days if
not weeks (ibid). The resulting smoke during the day would be seen for miles while the
fire at night would be seen over an even further distance, creating a stunning display.
While initially thought to be a purely Scottish phenomenon,
vitrification has no chronological or geographical
significance, and occurs across Europe (Ralston 1981; 2006,
143-63) and the process is likely to be related to the slaked
(limestone) ramparts of the Welsh Marches (Cunliffe 2005,
636; Moore 2006, 63). However, Scotland has one of the
highest densities of vitrified forts in the world with for
example a similar number to France (Mackie 1976; Ralston
1981).
Several models behind vitrification have been discussed: accidental fire; constructional
factors; and a deliberate act of destruction, whether as an act of attack, of ceremony or
of vanquish (Mackie 1976; Ralston 2006, 162-3). Accidental fires would be unlikely to
have such sustained effects, except in the most localized of settings and the
unpredictability of the process suggests it was not constructional (ibid). Given the
inherent difficulties of achieving vitrification, the current totals presumably represent an
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underestimate of the total number of hillforts fired, the majority reaching insufficient
temperature to vitrify sufficient material to be observed.
Current views tend to see vitrification as either an act of aggression following capture
(Armit 2005, 59; Ralston 2006, 163; Harding 2012, 188) or as ‘ritual closure’ at the end
of the site’s active life (Armit 2005, 52-3; Moore 2006, 63), akin to the destruction of
many Neolithic ritual monuments (Noble 2006, 45-70). How one might distinguish
between motives is difficult to ascertain: in a historic context one may attempt to link
the recorded destruction of a hillfort to archaeological deposits as undertaken by Alcock
at Dumbarton Rock (1976) or Dundurn (Alcock et al 1989). However, it is not always
clear if one is dealing with the same site or indeed the destruction event described,
equally, there are vitrified hillforts for which there are no early historic records, for
example Green Castle (Ralston 1980).
In a prehistoric context, the identification of motive is much harder, although one may
attempt to advance arguments based on a number of factors. For example, the more
extensive the vitrification around the circuit, the more effort required and therefore the
less likely to be enemy action; or perhaps if vitrification is focused on a gate, it may be
more likely to be the result of enemy action. Finally, was the site reoccupied and how
soon after its initial destruction, with the sooner the reoccupation took place the more
likely it derived from enemy action, assuming its strategic location remained valid (Cook
forthcoming). Individual and specific arguments must be advanced for each vitrified site
and it is not possible to come to a single all-encompassing theory.
One argument is that timbers laced walls and ramparts were lined with wood
(presumably oak and yew which burns hot) which was set on fire, the heat of this fire
causing the smaller core material within the wall to partially melt and fuse. However,
intriguingly, at Dun Deardail and also the vitrified fort at Carradale (Argyll) it is clear that
the original wall was lined with much smaller stones and it is this outer portion of the
wall that has vitrified, with the core material remaining largely unaffected.
The proposed excavation of Dun Deardail represents the first significant excavation of a
vitrified hillfort since Mackie’s excavation at Finvaon in the 1960s (Mackie 1976; Ralston
2006) and, as such, confirms the wider cultural significance of the project, meeting
many of the aims and objectives of Our Place in Time: the historic environment strategy
for Scotland and the emerging Scottish Archaeology Strategy.
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Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (SCARF)
The proposed excavation represents an opportunity to provide information on a number
of areas: prehistoric settlement in Glen Nevis, a west coast hillfort, the internal
settlement of a hillfort and information about vitrification.
Driscoll (2011) identifies the priorities for Pictish hillfort studies as:
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a sustained excavation of a Pictish hillfort;
an investigation of an Iron Age hillfort which appears to have been reused in the
Pictish period; and
the excavation of a later medieval power centre which continued to be significant
in the Middle Ages.
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The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (SCARF) Section 6.9 identifies a
number of key research questions with regard to Iron Age hillfort studies. While the
Medieval section is not explicit with regard to Early Historic hillforts, the Iron Age
questions are equally as relevant. Specific Iron Age and Early Historic hillfort research
questions include:
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Why enclose?
Is there evidence for warfare?
What is the social context of hillforts?
What is their duration of use?
Is the Early Historic re-use and remodelling of some Iron Age forts based on
convenience and / or ancestral associations?
What is the role of the hillfort? Were they places for elites, production centres,
community markets, domestic settlement, does this role change over time?
Did activity expand out-with the confines of the enclosing walls or ramparts?
Were hillforts used continuously, seasonally or episodically?
Why does the basic domestic form change from circular in the Iron Age to
rectangular in the Early Historic?
Was agricultural surplus being produced?
Is vitrification coincident with the demise of the hillfort?
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ScARF has therefore identified a lack of information about a number of aspects relating
to Iron Age and Early Historic hillforts within Section 6.9; specific ScARF research
recommendations that will be addressed by the project are as follows:
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“Enquiry must move to a situation where regions can be compared on a more
equal footing. Some key ‘black holes’ sitting between other better understood
areas are immediate targets for research (e.g. Fife, between the Lothians and
Angus; the western seaboard between Galloway and Argyll; the central and
western Highlands).
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Why did people choose to inhabit places such as hilltops, promontories jutting into
the ocean and artificial islands in lochs? There is a need not only to study the
setting of sites but also to try to reach a better understanding of how landscapes
were conceived.
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There is no overall picture regarding the role of ‘hillforts’, whether as tribal
capitals, (seasonal) meeting places, elite residences, or other functions and it is
likely that their role varied across time and space. This impacts directly on social
models for the Iron Age; regionally-based diachronic models are a key desiderata.

The lack of dating evidence for enclosed sites is an issue across the board, as it is
a severe constraint in understanding them. ‘Key-hole’ work offers the prospect of
obtaining at least an outline chronology in an area relatively quickly, but with the
caveat that such approaches will inevitably simplify each site sequence and can
only produce a first-stage model.
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The lack of evidence for activities within enclosed sites, due to limited work in
enclosure interiors, is a severe constraint, as are the difficulties in connecting
interior activity to enclosure sequences.
(http://www.scottishheritagehub.com/content/69-research-recommendations)”
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Project Aims and Objectives
The primary aims of the project are to establish the nature, position and role of Dun
Deardail within a broader landscape and social context. The working hypothesis is that
Dun Deardail is a Middle Iron Age hillfort (middle to late first millennium BC) that was
reoccupied and remodelling in the Early Historic / Pictish period (middle to late first
millennium AD). Excavation at Dun Deardail will provide a rare and much needed
opportunity to investigate a relatively small ‘citadel’ hillfort with extant and visible
vitrifaction. Excavation will contribute to our understanding of how such sites came to
be, how they were used and how they fit into a wider socio-political and socio-economic
context. However, by necessity the research aims have to be iterative and will be
revisited at the conclusion of each of the first two fieldwork seasons as the results have
the potential to alter the nature of subsequent research questions.
This Project Design defines the main research questions that require further
archaeological investigation. These are:
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Has the erosion present impacted on any underlying deposits?
Is the varying thickness of the ramparts visible from the survey the product of
differential weathering or different phasing?
What is the relationship between the two halves of the hillfort?
Is the gap in the rampart on the west an entrance or a subsequent breach and
has the visitor erosion impacted on any underlying deposits?
When was Dun Deardail vitrified?
Is Dun Deardail a Late Iron Age hillfort remodelled into an Early Historic citadel
fort?
Is Dun Deardail a high status fort the populous of which had a wide range of
economic and social contacts?
Are the walls constructed from stone and interlaced timber?
Was vitrification of the walls achieved by the addition of smaller stones of mixed
geological types?
Does vitrification occur at the end of the use of the hillfort?
Was the entrance into Dun Deardail elevated and contained within the enclosing
wall, explaining why none is visible in plan?
Because of its high altitude was Dun Deardail seasonally occupied?
Did specialised craft production take place at Dun Deardail?
Were other non-specialised domestic activities taking place within Dun Deardail?
Will the archaeological evidence for Late Iron Age structures within the interior
comprise postholes and stone walls?
Will the archaeological evidence for Early Historic structures within the interior
comprise post-pads and sill beams rather than postholes?
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Will the Late Iron Age internal structures be circular in plan?
Will the Early Historic internal structures be rectangular to sub-rectangular in
plan?
Was agricultural surplus stored within Dun Deardail?
Was settlement or other activities taking place on the terraces located
immediately below Dun Deardail?
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The archaeological aims and objectives of the project are to:

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Establish the extent of the archaeological deposits and any damage to them.
Provide interpretation of Dun Deardail through archaeological research, exploring
the phases of occupation of the site and any evidence for re-use of the site;
Excavate a sufficient area of the site to establish the extent and character of the
archaeological remains present within the interior and around the exterior of the
fort in order to identify individual structures, internal features and deposits;
Recover environmental samples and artefacts which will assist interpretation and
chronology of the past activities within the site and the function of the structures;
Obtain secure dating material / artefactual evidence from the site to be used in
chronological interpretation.
Enhance the historic environment records.
Contribute to the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework and the emerging
Scottish Archaeology Strategy.
Record and protect damaged areas of the rampart and entrance;
Consolidate previously damaged areas;
Inform the long term conservation management of the site;
Provide opportunities through the provision of community outreach and
archaeological training in excavation and recording;
Present the site for visitors in a sustainable manner;
Provide high-quality outreach and educational opportunities;
Record and explain the process of vitrification;
Assess the success of the project;
Produce both an academic report and a popular publication; and
Provide tourism and economic benefits to the local community.
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Programme of works
The project is divided into two stages of work. Stage One will comprise the
archaeological fieldwork and interim reporting and Stage Two will comprise postexcavation analysis, final reporting and publication. Fieldwork will take place over three
years with three seasons of two to three weeks excavation. Stage One and Stage Two
will take part consecutively with a programme of post-excavation taking place after each
season of fieldwork in order to inform the excavation strategy of the following season.
The Site Director will prepare a Method Statement, a Risk Assessment and a Health and
Safety Plan on acceptance of the contract. Along with this Project Design the Method
Statement will be used to obtain Scheduled Monument Consent and Section 42 Consent.
Production of method statement
A Method Statement will be produced by the successful archaeological contractor. This
Method Statement will detail the methods to be followed to ensure the successful
implementation of the project as detailed in this Project Design. The Project Design and
the Method Statement will be submitted as supporting documentation for the application
for SMC and Section 42 Consent.
Both the Project Design and Method Statement will be archived at the Highland Council
Historic Environment Record and will be made available immediately. This open and
transparent excavation strategy is in line with sustainable procurement methodology
(Rees and Ritchie, forthcoming).
Production of Risk Assessment and Health and Safety
Plan
A risk assessment covering all on and off-site works will be produced prior to the
commencement of the project and every member of staff and on-site volunteers will be
required to read it prior to starting work. A health and safety plan will be produced prior
to the start of fieldwork. This document will then be available on site for consultation.
Given the volume of lifting involved in any hillfort excavation a key focus on this will be
manual handling, the use of boots, gloves and TILE (Task, Individual, Load,
Environment).
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Desk-based Assessment and comparative study
A desk-based assessment will be undertaken which will consolidate existing information
on Iron Age and Early Historic hillforts in Scotland, focussing in particular on the central
and western Highlands. Resources that should be consulted include:
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Academic publications;
Grey literature;
NMRS (Canmore), Highland Historic Environment Record (HER), PastMap, HLA, HS
(SM lists);
Ordnance Survey maps and historical maps held at the National Map Library of
Scotland;
Statistical Accounts;
National Archives of Scotland and other collections of historical archives;
National Library of Scotland; and
Aerial photograph collections (NMRS).
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In addition, this review should review existing academic theses, and approaches being
taken to vitrified forts elsewhere in Scotland.
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Stage One programme of on-site works
One of the inevitable variabilities of working on any large scale prehistoric site is that
one becomes more attuned to the site’s nuances over time and the longer one spends on
the site in differing weather and light conditions, the better. Therefore the excavation
strategy has to take account of this possibility and any proposed works beyond Year 1
can only be indicative. In addition, each fieldwork season should enhance the existing
survey record, for example by increasing the number of survey points and by recording
in more detail the nature of the visible vitrification. It is also likely that more areas of
vitrification will be identified across the site.
Geophysics
The interior of the hillfort appears to have been significantly remodelled and there is a
considerable amount of internal rubble and stone work presumably derived from the
collapsed enclosing wall and internal structures. In addition, the vitrified enclosing wall
appears to be rich in iron base material. Although the ground conditions and the nature
of the geology suggests that the use of geophysical techniques are not suitable for Dun
Deardail, previous work at the vitrified hillfort of Craig Phadrig (Noble and
Sveinbjarnarson, forthcoming) is informative.
As part of the University of Aberdeen’s Northern Picts Project, two short seasons of
geophysical survey in July and December 2013 were conducted on Craig Phadrig (where
important Iron Age and early medieval phases have been identified).
During the July survey magnetometry was attempted on the interior of the fort, but the
vitrification and geology rendered the results unusable. Survey shifted to resitivity and
four 20m x 20m grids in July and eight further grids in December covered the interior
and lower citadel of the fort. The survey grids were recorded with dGPS.
The survey has shown the potential for geophysical survey to reveal details on the
internal layout of forts such as Craig Phadrig. Possible features identified included
potential circular structures in the southern end of the upper citadel and activity areas in
the lower citadels. The most intriguing features are two linear low resistance features
with a bowed end. These features may be the remains of an internal palisade or large
structure within the northern end of the upper citadel. A possible entrance to this
structure is on the northern end where the linear anomalies curve towards one another.
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The results of the resistivity survey at Craig Phadrig with approximate location (Noble
and Sveinbjarnarson, forthcoming).
The hillfort of Dun Deardail will be subject to a programme of resistivity survey and
electrical resistance tomography. Methodology will comprise a standard topographic
survey in combination with an aerial survey for 3D modelling and reconstruction
purposes. This will be combined with a 2ha gradiometer survey, which will cover the
extent of the site, followed by a more detailed resistivity survey, targeting areas of
interest from the gradiometry – this is planned at 0.5ha due to the high cost and time
involved in resistivity. There will be six transects of ERT (electrical resistance
tomography) to characterise the stratigraphy and model the deposits on the site. These
will be targeted on promising areas identified during the topographic and geophysical
surveys.
The results will be combined with existing topographic data and will be used to confirm
the indicative trench layout described below. The survey will also fully record (on plan
and with both written description and photography) all areas or erosion and potential
erosion on the fort.
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Preparatory Works
Using the results of the geophysical and photogrammetric surveys, in combination with
existing topographic data, trench layouts will be confirmed on the ground. The survey
will also fully record (on plan and with both written description and photography) all
areas or erosion and potential erosion on the fort. A preparatory visual archaeological
evaluation will be undertaken to ensure the protection of the main access and route
ways into and around the fort. Robust matting will be used to protect ground surfaces
from visitor and excavation footfall.
Site Access
Site access will be via the forestry track leading up from the Braveheart car park; the
access gate is locked and a key will be required for the duration of each field season.
Volunteers should be met in the Braveheart car park and driven up to the site at the
beginning of each day in the site minibus and returned to the car park each evening.
Similarly, visiting school parties may be driven up to the site or alternatively the walk up
the site is incorporated into the overall experience. Site vehicles can be taken up to the
western side of Dun Deardail with the remaining 500m to the hillfort accessed via a
recently constructed forestry path, which includes steps, and is therefore only passable
on foot. When recruiting volunteers and organizing school and other visits the limitations
of the access to the site should be made clear well in advance.
On-site facilities
On site facilities will comprise two serviced portaloos which will be located in the
hammer-head of the forestry track located just beyond the path leading up to the fort.
In addition a steel container with secure door and window will be located here within
which tools etc. can be securely stored overnight. Depending upon the weather a large
tent will be erected outwith the scheduled area but on one of the lower terraces which
will serve as the day to day mess hut, daily store for finds, samples and tools, site office
and on the open day exhibition area for the finds etc. However, in adverse conditions the
site is so exposed that it may not be possible to maintain near on-site cover and in this
instance the steel container will double up as the mess hut and store. All site records will
be taken off site each evening and stored at the accommodation. All finds will be
removed from site each night and housed at the accommodation. Finds will generally not
be brought back to site on a day to day basis. However, selected finds will be brought to
site for booked school visits and also for the open day when visitors can view them
under close supervision of the training officer and/or a member of the excavation team.
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Wet sieving
At the time of the site reconnaissance visit, June 2013, there was no running water near
to the site or to the proposed location of the portaloos and steel container. Therefore, it
seems unlikely that it will be practical to conduct on-site wet sieving.
Site preparatory works for excavation
All site preparation works, including the laying out of trenches, de-turfing and site
reinstatement will be carried out by hand. The location of trenches (see above) will be
demarcated and where applicable de-turfing will be carried out using spades. All turf will
be laid on tarpaulin adjacent to the trench from which it was derived for reinstatement at
the end of season of excavation. All excavated soil and sediment will also be temporarily
bunded on tarpaulin next to the trench of origin for subsequent re-instatement. All stone
will be kept separate to ensure satisfactory site reinstatement.
Excavation
As the hillfort has never been ploughed there is the potential that the topsoil contains
objects associated with the hillfort’s use. Therefore, prior to excavation each trench
location will be metal detected and 30% of the soil removed from the site will be dry
sieved and metal detected. If this process identifies significant objects then the level of
sieving will be increased. In addition, bulk soil samples will be taken from each and
every excavated context.
A common problem with the excavation of ramparts is the volume of stone present,
which is unknown and may result in deep trenches with unstable sides, therefore
trenches have to be wide enough to allow stepping. This of course minimises damage to
the deposits.
Excavation will be minimised to achieve the project aims (as per SHEP) and in effect
comprise key-hole strip and map with full recording and limited, targeted further
excavation. In addition, wherever possible the excavation trenches will be located over
areas of erosion, to explore its nature and any impacts on the underlying deposits.
The excavation strategy will be broadly undertaken according to this Project Design. Any
variation from this Project Design and the successful contractor’s Method Statement
should be discussed and agreed with Historic Scotland and FCS before implementation.
Within the scheduled monument there will be six excavation trenches. It is anticipated
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that Trenches 1 and 3 will be excavated over the three seasons, Trench 5 over one to
two seasons depending upon the findings and Trenches 2, 4 and 6 over a single season.
Trenches 7-10 will be excavated in Seasons 2 and 3 outside the Scheduled Area.
Site grid
A grid, laid out with a total station, will be set up prior to any excavation works starting.
The grid will be employed over the whole site and all trenches and archaeological
features will be related to this grid. This grid will be related to Ordnance Datum.
Plan of Dun Deardail hillfort with indicative Trench locations 1 to 6.
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Trench 1:
This trench will be located at the eastern end of the hillfort and straddle the enclosing
wall into the interior, 10m NW/SE and 4m NE/SW. The research questions to be address
in this trench are:
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What is the nature of the enclosing wall?
Is vitrification present that was not visible by the survey?
What impact if any has the circuit path had on the underlying deposits?
Are there internal structures or is this a single large sub-circular structure?
What is the depth of the stratigraphy, can multiple phases of occupation be
determined?
How is this terrace constructed?
What are the dates of construction, use and abandonment?
Is there vitrified material present not visible via survey?
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It is likely that not all of the area of Trench 1 will be fully excavated. The strategy should
be to strip, map and sample excavation, with significant structural elements being
preserved in situ. Turf and topsoil will be hand cleared over the whole extent of Trench 1
to reveal the uppermost archaeological deposits and features. This will allow for the
identification of specific deposits and/or features that will require excavation in order to
address the research questions listed above. It is likely that in seasons 2 and 3 not all
the original excavation area will be re-opened but areas of potential targeted.
Trench 2:
This trench will be located opposite to Trench 1 straddling the mapped vitrification and
erosion as well as the visitor path and will be located across the enclosing wall; it will
measure 10m NW/SE and 2m NE/SW. The enclosing wall will be removed in this trench
and later reinstated). The results of this trench will be compared to those of Trench 4 in
order to assess whether there is single phase of outer enclosing wall construction or
whether there has been later refortification.
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30
What is the nature of the inner and outer face of the enclosing wall?
Is there any reason for the increased thickness on the northern side?
What impact if any has the erosional path had on the underlying deposits?
Where is the vitrified material located?
Does vitrification only occur on the outer face?
How is the enclosing wall constructed?
When was the enclosing wall constructed?
Are there internal structures and deposits?
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What are dates of internal features?
Trench 3:
This trench will be located over the southernmost internal terrace and the visitor path. It
will measure 10m NW/SE and 4m NE/SW. The research questions to be addressed in this
trench are:
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Are there internal structures and deposits?
What is the depth of stratigraphy?
How is the terrace constructed?
Was this area used at the same time as the upper ‘citadel’ area?
It is likely that not all of the area of Trench 3 will be fully excavated. The strategy should
be to strip, map and sample excavation, with some significant structural elements being
preserved in situ. Turf and topsoil will be hand cleared over the whole extent of Trench 3
to reveal the uppermost archaeological deposits and features. This will allow for the
identification of specific deposits and/or features that will require excavation in order to
address the research questions listed above. It is likely that in seasons 2 and 3 not all
the original excavation area will be re-opened but areas of potential targeted.
Trench 4:
This trench will be located over the south-western enclosing wall and will measure 6m
NE/SW and 4m NW/SE and will be located across the enclosing wall. The enclosing wall
will not be removed in this trench. The enclosing wall at this location appears particularly
high and well preserved and in addition the outer face has been vitrified. The outer slope
below the enclosing wall, although steep is not precipitous and thus can be worked on.
The trench will also encompass a small portion of an inner terrace. The research
questions to be address in this trench are:
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Are there internal structures and deposits next to the inner face of the wall?
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Trench 5:
This trench will be located straddling the inner bank and the two breaks of slope that
occurs between the lower and upper portions of the hillfort. Nettles were relatively
prolific in this area at the time of the reconnaissance visit and therefore it is possible
that midden material, perhaps relating to later activity within the upper citadel, is
located here. This trench will measure 15m NE/SW by 2m NW/SE. The research
questions to be address in this trench are:
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What is the nature of the low bank oriented roughly north-south?
What is the nature of the lower terrace and the break of slope?
Are midden deposits preserved here?
What are the stratigraphic relationships?
What date is the bank?
How do the lower and upper areas relate stratigraphically?
What is the stratigraphic relationship of the enclosing wall and the break of slope
that defines the upper ‘citadel’?
When was the wall or the break of slope constructed?
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Trench 6:
This trench will be located over the north-western enclosing wall and will measure 6m
E/S and 5m N/S and will be located across the enclosing wall at the supposed entrance.
Any remains of the enclosing wall found within the existing entrance will be removed and
recorded, the entrance being made safe and any existing archaeological deposits
recorded prior to erosion. The research questions to be address in this trench are:
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What is the nature of the gap?
Are there internal structures and deposits next to the inner face of the wall?
What impact if any has the entrance path (leading to circuit path) had on the
underlying deposits?
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Trenches 7-10:
Neither the location of theses trenches nor their scale has been determined, following
the completion of Season 1 and the use of volunteers to systematically walk the exterior
slopes it is expected that a more nuanced understanding of the site’s exterior and the
potential features identified by Feachem will have been reached. In broad terms these
trenches will test for the presence or absence of archaeological deposits and/or
structures located beneath the hillfort. The depth of peat immediately around the hillfort
is not thought to be great. However, Trenches 7-10 will also provide a section through
the peat which can be sampled for palynology, namely pollen and spores.
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Is there evidence for contemporary activity out with the hillfort?
Is there evidence of buried soils and old ground surfaces?
General Excavation Methods
Field recording will be in accordance with standards of the MoLAS Archaeological Field
Manual and current IfA standards and practices. All excavation will be undertaken by
hand. The trenches are to be de-turfed by hand and the turf stacked adjacent to each
trench for end of season backfilling; turf, soil and stone will be kept separate to aid
backfilling and site contour reconstruction. In general, total excavation is expected but it
is at the discretion of the Site Director to determine whether sample excavation or total
excavation is appropriate. Any significant variations to the agreed Project Design,
Scheduled Monument Consent (and Conditions) and Method Statement must be
discussed and agreed with Historic Scotland and FCS before they are implemented.
All features will be allocated individual numbers and blocks of numbers should be used
for individual trenches to easily distinguish different excavation areas. Site records and
precious artefacts must be removed from site at the end of each day and must not be
left on site unattended. Consideration of the impact of erosion on the preservation of the
archaeological remains should be assessed during the excavations.
Written Records
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Site records will be kept for all features.
Pro-forma context sheets and, if required, skeleton recording forms will be used.
Site notebooks / daybooks will supplement the context sheets.
Registers of finds, samples, drawings will be maintained.
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Sample forms will be used for all environmental, radiocarbon and special samples.
A level and survey book will be maintained.
Drawings
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Drawings will be at 1:20 for plans and 1:10 for sections.
Burials will be drawn at 1:10.
All drawings will be allocated unique numbers and recorded in a register.
All drawings will show the scale, north arrow, a key, site code, date and author
and will be drawn on drawing film.
All drawings will be located on the site grid (tied to the National Grid).
All levels on plans and sections and all drawings will be related to Ordnance
Datum.
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Photography
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Photographs will be taken and stored as .jpeg files, as per RCAHMS
recommendations.
Use will also be made of low altitude aerial photography (drone / kite) and pole
cameras.
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Artefacts and Ecofacts
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All significant artefacts will be located in three dimensions and recorded on both
the context sheet and in a finds register.
All significant artefacts are to be treated as special / small finds. However, if
pottery sherds are numerous and undecorated these will be recorded according to
context only.
All artefacts and ecofacts will be retained.
Artefact treatment and processing will be in accordance with the Institute of
Conservation’s Conservation Guidelines No.2.
Precious artefacts – gold, silver, copper alloy items, coins, carved stones etc will
be removed from site at the end of the day’s excavation.
All vitrified material identified will be recorded as if a small find.
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Environmental and Dating Sampling Strategies
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34
A standard bulk sample of 10 litres for the retrieval of charred plant remains and
faunal remains is required for all deposits except turf and the topsoil. Collapse and
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abandonment deposits should be sampled in order to provide comparative data for
in situ occupation deposits and buried ground surfaces.
Bulk samples are to be processed by flotation, although the lack of water on or
near to site prevents this taking place during the course of fieldwork. Flotation
should follow standard procedures.
If waterlogged or charred organic material survives this will be collected.
Routine soil samples of at least 500g must be collected from all deposits other
than turf. These samples may be utilised for pollen analysis, pH analysis, and
phosphate, loss on ignition or particle size analysis and for characterisation of the
sediment.
Particular attention will be paid to the recovery of charcoal from key stratigraphic
locations: for radiocarbon dating, ideally samples should be recovered from four
types of context associated with the hillfort: pre-hillfort; construction/use of the
hillfort; destruction; remodelling and reuse.
Dry sieving of all contexts to ensure the recovery of all artefacts.
In situ vitrified material will be identified for the potential for archaeomagnetic
dating.
Depending on the results of the dating strategy it may be appropriate to
undertake Bayesian Analysis on the dating of the site’s occupation.
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Topographic survey and site specific 3D recording
A total station will be utilized for the duration of the fieldwork. A detailed microtopographic survey of the hillfort, the lower slopes and surrounding terraces will be
made over the duration of the project. The total station will also be used to set out the
site grid and record all significant finds in three dimensions. All three dimensional data
and all site plans will be entered into a GIS system, thus enabling complex spatial
interrogation of all the datasets.
The duration of the project also allows for an archaeological management survey to be
undertaken, mapping erosion, visitor pressure, animal burrows and vegetation (ie
bracken). The methodology will follow Historic Scotland’s Technical Advice Note 16:
Burrowing Animal and Archaeology (Dunwell & Trout 1999). This should allow an
enhanced understanding of the pressures facing the site.
Metal detecting
Following successful application for Section 42 Consent a metal detector would be on site
every day and used to scan each significant archaeological horizon prior to excavation.
The metal detector will also be used to scan spoil heaps on a daily basis.
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Human remains
The local police will be informed in the event that human remains are encountered. The
treatment of human remains will comply with historic Scotland’s policy paper ‘The
Treatment of Human Remains in Archaeology’. In addition the Code of Ethics and Code
of Practice produced by the British Association for Biological Anthropology and
Osteoarchaeology will be adhered to http://www.babao.org.uk/index/ethics-andstandards.
Conservation
Provision must be made for the on-site services of a conservator in the event that
significant and delicate artefacts or delicate charred in situ rampart timbers are
discovered. Basic conservation of artefacts (slow drying out, packaging, finds
washing/dry brushing etc) will be undertaken within the site accommodation. However, if
more specialist conservation of objects is required this will have to be carried out within
a professional conservation laboratory.
Site reinstatement and conservation works
Site reinstatement begins with deturffing. A deturffing tool will be used to ensure
consistency of turf thickness; the turves will be lifted in as large a block as can be safely
lifted. The turves will be placed opposite the place they derived from soil side down to
ensure they go back from where they came from, the turves will be watered each day.
Soil and stone from the topsoil will separated as indeed will structural stone. Following
the completion of excavation the trench will be lined with terram; if structural stone has
been removed this will be replaced first and then covered with more terram, then stones
from the topsoil will be placed first (not thrown), following this topsoil will be placed in
the trench in spits, with regular raking and compression. Some 0.5% of the topsoil will
be kept to one side and not backfilled. The turves will be replaced with the spare soil
being placed in any conspicuous gaps. At this point any spills of compacted spoil will be
raked up and placed in gaps between turves.
Where appropriate, any areas that cannot be re-turfed will be seeded with a locallysourced hardy species of grass. All areas of erosion unaffected by the excavation will
also be repaired to the same standards.
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Field team
The project steering group comprises The Nevis Partnership, Forestry Commission
Scotland, Historic Scotland, Highland Council and the successful archaeological
contractor.
The professional field team must comprise six experienced field archaeologists supported
by specialists renowned in their particular field or fields of expertise. The team should
aspire to provide a high quality product in the form of community engagement,
archaeological and historical research, archaeological excavation, post-excavation
analyses and publication. The site Director’s company or institution will represent the
steering group with regard insurance, health and safety policy, financial arrangements
and project management.
The specific roles of the core team are:
Site Director
Responsibilities:


Director of the archaeological project.
Reporting to the Nevis Partnership Dun Deardail Archaeological Project Steering
Group.
Application for Scheduled Monument and Section 42 Consent and ensuring the
conditions are met.
Production of Method Statement.
Direction of excavations and management of professional archaeological team.
Management and implementation of the archaeological outreach programme.
Management of all administrative tasks and other logistical arrangements.
Adapting excavation strategy in response to on site discoveries and liaison with
specialists as required.
Writing and co-ordinating the Data Structure Report, post-excavation research
design and the final post-excavation report.
Writing and submitting Discovery and Excavation in Scotland and OASIS entries.
Final archiving of the project including Treasure Trove reporting and delivery of
the final archive to RCAHMS.
Arranging and ordering portable toilets, all on-site facilities and equipment etc.
Production of the final publication in the form of an illustrated book.
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Site Archaeologists
Responsibilities:
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Ensuring the instructions of the Site Director are carried out successfully
Responsibility for accurate excavation and recording.
On the job training of volunteers (see below).
Individual roles to be assigned will include:

EDM / Total Station surveying: setting out of site grid, earthworks survey of the
hillfort, location of plans and sections, levels, three dimensional recording of
artefacts.
Environmental sampling: responsibility for ensuring that all appropriate deposits
are sampled and labelled correctly, all sample forms are completed and cross
referenced to the feature forms, storage and transport of samples.
Training Co-ordinator / officer: responsible for the managing and overseeing of
the on-site training of the volunteers, booked school and other organisations site
visits and greeting and engaging with any casual visitors (see below).
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Stage 2 programme of post-excavation
At the end of each season a Post-Excavation Research Design (PERD) will be produced.
The objective will be to have some results available before the start of the second
season so that the excavation strategy can reflect the findings and outreach material can
be updated accordingly.
A final comprehensive PERD will be produced on completion of excavation of Dun
Deardail and the experimental vitrification site. All interim and the final PERD will require
the input and approval of FCS and HS before it is implemented.
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Interim Reporting
Within one month of the completion of each fieldwork season the results of the
archaeological works will be presented in the form of a written Interim Data Structure
Report. A site database will be complied utilising Access and updated each year.
The reports will be prepared in accordance with current standard Historic Scotland
procedural requirements and standard procedures. The Interim Data Structure Report
will contain the following:
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a location plan of the site;
a location plan of the trenches;
plans and sections of features;
appendices to include: context descriptions, drawing record, photographic record,
sample record, special samples record and finds record;
summary description of the results of each trench;
summary interpretation of the results of each trench; and
summary conclusions.
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Following the production of the Interim Data Structure Report a costed Post-Excavation
Design will be prepared; the costed Post-Excavation Research Design will be produced
within two weeks of the completion of each Interim Data Structure Report. Following
consultation with HS and FCS a preliminary programme of post-excavation will be
undertaken following the completion of fieldwork in season one and season two. A final
costed Post-excavation Research Design will be produced after the completion of the
final Interim Data Structure Report. The final publication will be produced within a year
of the agreement of the final Post-Excavation Design.
A summary report on the works and its findings will be submitted to Discovery and
Excavation in Scotland at the end of every season to ensure compliance with standard
practice; and a digital copy of all the Interim Data Structure Reports will be available
free of charge on the Dun Deardail web site.
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Public engagement, outreach and
education
On-site volunteer training
Each season will provide up to 168 volunteer days (maximum of 2 volunteers per
archaeologist) and thus a maximum of 12 volunteers per day. It is anticipated that
volunteers will have to sign up for a minimum of 5 days to receive the full training
programme in archaeological excavation and recording techniques. The successful
archaeological contractor will manage the attendance of volunteers and will have set up
a booking system for the days of the excavation. A daily list of volunteers will be given
to the training co-ordinator who will meet the volunteers in Braveheart car park and
bring them up to Dun Deardail in the site minibus. Each professional archaeologist will
be daily assigned two volunteers for whom they are responsible. However, the
professional archaeologists will be rotated around the volunteers so that volunteers are
given as broad an experience as possible.
Each week there will be a series of ‘master classes’ covering all the basic principles of
field archaeology for those volunteers signed up for at least one week. These master
classes will be held on site with an open classroom element and also where possible a
practical element. During the excavation particular elements of the master classes will
be highlighted to volunteers by practical examples as and when they occur on site.
Master classes will comprise:
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De-turfing. Safe use of spades and shovel;
Manual handling
Troweling (also appropriate use of hand shovels, buckets etc);
Feature recognition. Soil colours, soil textures. Stone structures, walls, rubble, turf
banks and walls;
Principals of archaeology: contexts, cuts, fills, layers, features etc;
On site recording. Context register, context sheets, drawing sheets, photograph
register, bulk sample register, routine soil register, special sample register, find
register;
Drawing. Plans, sections, elevation. Scales of drawing, 1:10, 1:20. How to draw,
convention of symbols used. Artefact recognition, handling and recording;
Set up and use of EDM. Setting out;
EDM topographic survey;
EDM small finds location and levels;
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Use of dumpy level;
Dry sieving; and
Archaeological photography.
A training book will be devised and issued to all those volunteers who have signed up to
participate in the formalized training schedule. This will include all the basic on site skills
required of a field archaeologist: troweling, feature recognition, recording (contexts
sheets etc), artefact recognition, finds recording and handling, sampling (bulk, routine
and special), planning, elevations, set up and use of dumpy level, set and use of total
station, dry sieving, photography, walkover survey techniques and the rapid recording of
sites etc. This will allow a more flexible approach to volunteer training, as volunteers not
able to attend at the beginning of a week will be able to receive a full programme of
training guided by their individual training book.
Archaeological Outreach Programme
This will comprise a series of lectures, evening classes (training workshops), school
workshops, the development of educational material, initiatives linked into the
Curriculum for Excellence and a project website or blog. All events will be evaluated by
means of a feedback form.
Evening classes
If there is sufficient interest a number of evening classes will be held (location to be
decided) to demonstrate and teach the basics of downloading data from the total station,
the basic plotting of three dimensional data and the use of data in GIS. These skills will
be readily transferable to any other archaeological survey or excavation work that
volunteers may plan to undertake in the future. Dates of the evening classes will be
announced to on-site volunteers during the course of the excavation.
School visits
The archaeological contractor will be responsible for contacting the local primary schools
and the secondary school and encouraging and arranging site visits and school based
workshops.
School visits to Dun Deardail will be encouraged. Schools will be given an outline of what
their pupils might do at the site and this geared towards primary and secondary pupils.
The suggested activities may include: photography, filming, recording (text and artistic
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sketches), scaled drawings, use of compass, observing the on-going excavation and
interviewing one of the archaeologists.
Primary school based workshops may include mock excavation based around what it is
to be an archaeologist (see below for further information regarding Teachers packs). For
the secondary school it is proposed that a lecture is given on what it is to be an
archaeologist with particular emphasis on the multidisciplinary nature of field
archaeology and the many and diverse skills a field archaeologist needs in order to do
his/her job. Written material may include information necessary to carry out a themed
school assembly, as well as other ways for the pupils to share their experience with
other pupils and utilise the data from their visit in subjects across the curriculum.
Learning resource
A primary and secondary school teachers’ learning resource relevant to the Curriculum
for Excellence will be produced. These resource packs will be accompanied by teacher
training seminars. The suggested content includes:

A summary of the background to the Iron Age and Early Historic periods,
description of the site (this can be updated each year incorporating results of the
on-going excavation); comparison with other Scottish hillforts; Iron Age people;
the Picts and Dál Riata (Gaels); warfare; food and farming; industry and craft
production; connections with other communities and contacts further afield;
beliefs and symbol stones; and documentary sources.
Modern and schematic maps locating the site in a broader social and geographic
context.
A description of what archaeologists do, how they work, the tools they use and
how they interpret and record any finds.
Work Sheets (with instructions) of suggested classroom activities for different age
groups.
A collection of items to do a practice excavation, post-excavation and display of
artefacts based around the Iron Age and Early Historic Period: excavation box,
appropriate tools, replica artefacts. Instructions for teacher how to: prepare the
excavation, how to excavate and record. Sheet of finds explain what they are,
their social and/or economic significance etc.
Illustrations for use in classroom.
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It is anticipated that the schools involved in the project will comprise: Lochaber High
School, Lochyside Primary, Fort William Primary, Fort William RC Primary and Banavie
Primary. It is possible that further afield primary schools such as Ardgour, Saint Brides
and Spean Bridge primary schools may be interested in becoming involved with the
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project. It is also possible that students following courses such as Adventure Tourism
Management and Rural Skills and the local college may also been interested in
participating in the project.
Open days
An open day will be held on-site each season prior to backfilling. Excavation will continue
in order that visitors may see archaeology in practice, but all the archaeologists will
actively engage with visitors as and when required. It is anticipated that a series of
guided tours will be undertaken of the site; the times of the guided walks will be well
advertised in advance. Key finds will be displayed in the tent (if weather permits) or in
the secure store on the forestry track and an archaeologist will be present at all times to
ensure finds remain with their appropriate labels and are not damaged. The site minibus
will be used to ferry those visitors not wanting or able to walk the 3 km up from the
Braveheart car park.
Publicity material
A Dun Deardail excavation web site will be produced, weekly excavation reports will be
put on the web site and pdf versions of the interim reports and the final publication will
also be made available for free download. A day to day account of the excavation will be
reported via Dun Deardail’s Facebook page, also to be created. Posters advertising the
open day and any other events held in association with the excavation will also be
produced.
Public lectures
At least one public lecture on the results of excavation will be given each season in Fort
William (location to be decided).
Photographs
Photographs out with the formal excavation photographs will be taken on a regular basis
for publicity purposes. It may be necessary to obtain written consent from parents if
children are to be photographed. However, most schools have already done this and so
photographing and using pictures of school visits in publicity material is not envisaged as
problematic.
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Presentation
Preparation of information to update or add in an additional all-weather board will be
undertaken in consultation with FCS after the excavation has finished. A temporary
banner/ sign will be erected at the junction of the road and footpath up to the hillfort for
the duration of each season of excavation; this will include the logo of all funders and
match the requirements as specified by the funders.
Experimental reconstruction of the timber laced dry
stone rampart
The process of vitrification will be investigate by reconstructing a section of rampart (offsite and location to be decided) and then vitrified by fire. Ian Ralston (1986) conducted a
similar experiment (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIoYZLZySzI), and found
that only a small portion of the rock melted despite the addition of an enormous amount
of wood. It has been noted that at Dun Deardail and also especially at the vitrified fort at
Carradale (Argyll) where some of the wall is undercut, that the vitrified material is not in
fact core material, as such material is generally referred to in the literature, but
comprises smaller welded stone located on the outer face of a wall with a non-vitrified
inner original wall built from larger stone.
Specialist knowledge will be provided by the successful archaeological team (probably
including external specialists in smelting and geology) to the contractor, who will be
selected and separately contracted by The Nevis Landscape Partnership to actually
construct the experimental rampart. The reconstruction will measure 20m in length x
2.5m in width and will be up to 2m in height. It is likely that the rampart will be topped
by a wooden palisade and tribal flags (funder logos, project logos etc). The specific
design of the experimental rampart will be informed by the excavation of the enclosing
wall at Dun Deardail. Therefore to inform the experiment Trench 2 or 4 should be
excavated in the first season. The experimental rampart would then be constructed
taking into account the results of excavation at Dun Deardail.
Once the experimental rampart has been burnt a portion or portions of it, if slightly
different construction techniques are used along its length, will be excavated by the
professional archaeologists aided by volunteers, with the remainder being left in situ as a
visitor attraction. The experimental rampart will be accompanied by an explanation
board to include a brief section covering vitrified forts, the process of vitrification and an
explanation of the experiment. The results of the excavation of the experimental rampart
will be incorporated into the final publication.
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Evaluation of the project
All volunteer activities will be evaluated by means of participant evaluation / feedback
forms to be produced by the archaeological contractor; this will be managed on site by
the training officer. A sample of casual visitors to the site will also be asked to complete
a feedback form once they have been given an informal tour of the excavation. All
evaluation material submitted by volunteers and participants taking part in any of the
numerous archaeologically related events will be collated. In addition a sample of
volunteers, field staff, school staff and stakeholders will be interview with a view to
gauging their experience and perceived outcomes of the project. The data will be
analysed and a final evaluation report produced which will aim to measure and assess
the success of the project implementation.
The aim of the evaluation will be:
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To quantify to what extent the project achieved its aims and whether this was
good value for money; and
To showcase the achievements and legacy of the project.
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The anticipated audience for this evaluation are:
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Archaeological Project steering group and peers; and
Nevis Partnership stakeholders.
The report of the evaluation will include the evaluation of:
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The volunteer programme, using evaluation material collated during the project;
The education programme, including interviews with local schools;
The publication, including local public perception and a wider audience;
The press coverage (were the aims and outcomes of the project distributed
successfully?);
The effectiveness of the project management and the partnership; and
The overall project legacy, including training, education, raising awareness and
long term resources provided.
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Final publication
The final publication will be produced by the archaeological contractor, with editorial
services being provided by the FCS Archaeologist. The project is to be published in the
form an illustrated book (similar to the RCAHMS publication the Archaeological
Landscape of Bute – available to download free http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/rcahmspublications/the-archaeological-landscape-of-bute). The focus of the publication will be
the results of the excavation at Dun Deardail and those of the vitrification experiment. In
addition the site will be presented within its local setting, as well as a broader regional
and national archaeological context.
A copy of the book will be presented to all volunteers and stakeholders (though some
may prefer the digital version) and a limited number of copies will also be available free
from the Nevis partnership.
Archive Deposition
The archive from these works will be prepared for deposition in the National Monuments
Record of Scotland.
The disposal of small finds will be conducted according to the standard procedures in
Scotland.
Insurance
The successful archaeological contractor will have the following insurance as a minimum:
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Public Liability (£5,000,000)
Employer’s Liability (£10,000,000)
A copy of the employer’s liability certificate will be displayed on site. Provision within the
Insurance Policy should be made for the presence of volunteers on site. The liability of
the landowner, FCS, should be ascertained by the successful archaeological contractor.
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Professional standards
The Site Director will be a Member of the Institute for Archaeologists (IfA). All work will
be carried out in accordance with the current IfA standards of good archaeological
practice.
Scheduled Monument Consent
The Site is a Scheduled Monument (SM 2893). Scheduled Monument Consent will be
required before the start of fieldwork. Historic Scotland has been consulted about the
project and has indicated that SMC may be granted on receipt of the completed SMC
application forms and this Project Design. The Site Director is responsible for liaising
with Historic Scotland and ensuring that all requirements of SMC are complied with in full
and within the agreed timescale.
Conditions of Contract
The Conditions of Contract for the Purchase of Consultancy Services may only be varied
with the written agreement of Forestry Commission Scotland. No terms or conditions put
forward at any time by the appointed archaeological contractor shall form part of the
Contract unless specifically referred to in the Contract.
The Conditions of Contract which will apply may be viewed at
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-8xtkx5 and refer to the
‘Contract for Consultancy Services’ version applicable at the date of issue of any
resulting contract document.
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Indicative project costs and indicative
post-excavation costs
Excavation
The three season programme of excavation and post-excavation of Dun Deardail and the
experimental vitrified rampart site has an overall budget of £97,500 + VAT. It is
anticipated that the excavation budget for each season will be roughly £20,000 + VAT
with a budget of £10,000 + VAT for post-excavation in seasons one and two and
£17,500 + VAT after the completion of the fieldwork in season three. However, detailed
breakdown of all costs should be provided in the Tenders submitted for these works.
The works to be covered include:
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Full project management;
All excavation;
All post-excavation;
Reporting, including the content of the popular book; and
Volunteer recruitment, training and supervision.
FCS will contribute in-kind:
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Preparatory and later conservation management and stabilisation work required
(costs unknown at this stage).
An in-kind contribution to the project from volunteer activities will include:
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300 to 432 man-days of volunteer involvement over three seasons of excavation;
Approximately 60 man-days of volunteer activity in supporting outreach events;
and
25 man-days of volunteer activity in the vitrification experiment project.
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Archaeological outreach programme
The archaeological outreach programme has a budget of £30,000 + VAT. The works to
be covered include:
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Full project management;
Lectures;
Community and teacher training seminars;
Learning resources;
Other education material and literature;
School workshops;
Project web site and facebook page; and
Wider, linked training events.
Evaluation
The evaluation of the whole archaeological project has a budget of £10,000 + VAT. This
budget will include:
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Full project management; and
Development, analysis and final reporting of project evaluation.
Vitrification experiment
The vitrification experiment is to be constructed and managed by an external contractor
appointed by FCS. The vitrification experiment has a budget of £35,000 + VAT. This
budget will include:
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Full project management and construction;
Burning; and
Subsequent excavation, post-excavation and reporting.
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University of Stirling School of Biological and
Environmental Science PhD
A PhD into Vitrification in the Scottish Iron Age will be funded in partnership between
FCS and the University of Stirling School of Biological and Environmental Science.
Associated with the Dun Deardail initiative, this PhD will investigate the phenomena of
vitrification (of which several key sites are found on the national forest estate, including
Craig Phadrig, Dun Deardail, Tor Dhuinn and Knock Farril). The PhD student will be
expected to take an active role on the excavation of Dun Deardail and the vitrified fort
reconstruction project as a paid site assistant.
The current cost of a three year PhD stipend, fees and training support is £57,293, with
associated funding for travel, consumables and analytical costs, estimated at c. 9k over
the three years. Match funding costs then would total £33,147 (£11,050 per year for 3
years) to be matched by the university.
Publication
The publication budget is £20,000. The budget for the final reporting, illustration and
academic publication is £10,000. Estimates for the design and layout of the popular
publication are £3500, cartographic and image reproduction £3500 and printing of 500
copies £3000, all prices + VAT. The publication budget will cover:
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Full project management; and
Production of 500 copies of the popular book.
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Budget Summary
Excavation
Year
Year
Year
Year
1
2
3
4
£20k
£20k
£20k
Totals
£60k
PostExcavation
and reporting
£10k
£10k
£20k
£20k
(publication)
£60k
Outreach and
evaluation
Vitrifaction
experiment
PhD
£12k
£12k
£16k
£20k
£5k
£10k
£22k
£22k
£22k
£40k
£35k
£66k
FCS
FCS / Nevis Partnership
FCS / University of Stirling
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References
Alcock, L. 1976. A multidisciplinary for Alt Clut, Castle Rock, Dumbarton, Proceedings of
the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 107: 103-113.
Alcock, L. 1988. The activities of potentates in Celtic Britain, AD 500-800: a positivist
approach. Driscoll, S. and Nieke, M. (eds) Power and Politics in Early Medieval Britain
and Ireland, 40-46. Edinburgh.
Alcock, L, Alcock, E A & Driscoll, S T. 1989. Reconnaissance excavations on Early Historic
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